JP2004104180A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple restriction release method with high security for a user desiring emergent transmission in the case of transmission to an opposite party at the outside of a closed area access and when restrictions depending on a time zone are active. <P>SOLUTION: Using a password for authentication to temporarily release transmission restrictions enables a user to easily make transmission even in an emergency to prevent improper use of restriction release. Further, utilizing transmission restrictions depending on time to permit transmission only for a time zone serving an inexpensive communication charge can save the expense. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus connected and closed, which regulates and releases transmission.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There are various services that can be enjoyed by connecting a facsimile to a network, such as automatic retransmission, broadcast transmission, and G3 file transfer. The G3 file transfer service enables transmission and reception of documents and various data created by a personal computer or the like in a file format. G3 is one of the international standards of FAX, which can be used on an analog line, has a communication speed of 14.4 kbps (33.6 kbps for Super G3), and can send one A4 sheet in about one minute.
[0003]
The closed user group is an additional service related to the communication between specific users specified in the I series recommendation of ITU-T. Limit the communication range to registered user groups.
[0004]
Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 are examples of setting the transmission restriction from the transmitting side. Both regulate outgoing calls with reference to communication charges. In Patent Literature 1, an upper limit is set for a communication fee, and transmission restriction is performed on a communication destination exceeding the upper limit. In Patent Literature 2, a reference time to which a charge is added is determined, and when a billing pulse is sent in a shorter time than the reference time, the corresponding communication destination is registered as a transmission restriction destination.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-134398 A [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-07-183974
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The problems concerning the setting and cancellation of the transmission restriction in the facsimile apparatus will be described.
First, in a facsimile with a closed connection that calls cannot be made to destinations other than those registered in advance, if you want only specified people to send to unregistered destinations, you need to remove this restriction However, there is a problem that a complicated operation is required.
[0007]
Second, in a facsimile machine that has restrictions on outgoing calls that cannot be made to a pre-registered destination, it is necessary to remove this restriction if only specified people want to transmit to the registered destination. There is a problem that a complicated operation is required.
[0008]
Third, if you want to restrict outgoing calls only for a fixed period of time, for example, when sending overseas, you have responded by specifying time at the time when the charge becomes cheaper, but if you forget to specify it, it will communicate as it is In some cases, cost savings may not be available.
[0009]
Fourthly, there is a problem that transmission is restricted only for a predetermined period of time, and when urgent transmission to a destination for which transmission is restricted is desired, transmission is not possible due to restrictions.
[0010]
In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a facsimile apparatus which implements password-based authentication as a method of temporarily canceling outgoing call restriction, thereby avoiding abuse of the outgoing call restriction and simplifying necessary outgoing calls. Aim.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a communication means for making a telephone call, a reading means for reading an image, a printing means for outputting an image, an image storage means for holding an image, and a network. Communication control means for controlling connection with the image processing apparatus; encoding / decoding means for encoding / decoding image data; operation display means for inputting an external command and displaying a response to the command; Destination restricting means for setting, a restriction target storage means for holding the transmission restriction target, a restriction release means for releasing the transmission restriction by a password, a return means for returning the restriction release state to the restriction state, and the password And a password storage unit for storing the password.
[0012]
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the destination restriction means determines that transmission is possible only to the target held by the restriction target storage means.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the destination restriction means determines that transmission is not possible only to the object held by the restricted object storage means.
[0014]
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the destination restriction means has a time specification means for restricting the transmission at a specified time.
[0015]
A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that there is provided a canceling means for canceling the transmission restriction by the time designation means using a password, and a return means for returning from the restriction released state to the restricted state.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a facsimile apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, this facsimile apparatus is read out from a telephone 1 for making a telephone call with a partner telephone in a telephone mode, an audio ROM 2 for storing fixed digital audio data and generated sound data, and the audio ROM 2. The digital data is converted to an analog signal, and the audio output unit 3 outputs after amplifying the digital data to a predetermined level, the control unit 4 manages and controls the entire apparatus according to a built-in program, and the operator operates the facsimile apparatus. An operation unit 5 including a keyboard for giving an instruction and a display unit for transmitting a message or the like from the facsimile apparatus to the operator, a RAM 6 for temporarily storing image information and the like, and reading an image on a document. The received image information decoded by the scanner 7 and the encoding / decoding unit (DCR) 11 is output via the RAM 6. A network control unit (NCU) 9 for setting up a call between a rotator 8 and a remote facsimile apparatus via a public telephone network; a communication control unit 10 for performing facsimile transmission and reception in accordance with a G3 transmission control procedure; A high-speed modem 12, an image memory 13 for storing image information, and a parameter memory 14 for storing image information which is backed up by a battery in case of power-off.
[0017]
The control unit 4 includes name registration processing means for performing registration processing of the name data of the called party to be inserted into the voice message transmitted to the calling party at the time of the incoming call. Together with the unit and the name data storage unit in the parameter memory 14, the receiving side name registration means is constituted. The ROM in the control unit 4 containing the CPU and the program and the voice output unit 3 constitute a voice synthesizing unit, and the voice ROM 2 has a voice data storage unit for storing preset digital voice data. Have.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of control and operation in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2, when transmitting, a telephone number is input on the operation unit 5 (step 21). When a closed connection is set (step 22 / YES), a telephone number for which no telephone number is registered is transmitted. When the password input is OK (step 24 / NO), the fax is transmitted (step 25). If the closed connection has not been set (step 22 / NO), FAX transmission is performed (step 25). When the closed area connection is set (step 22 / YES) and the telephone number is a registered number (step 23 / YES), a fax is transmitted (step 25). When the closed connection is set (step 22 / YES), when the telephone number is not registered (step 23 / NO), and when the password input is NG (step 24 / NO), the telephone number is used. Return to input (step 21).
As a result, it is possible to temporarily release the restriction and transmit a call even to a party not registered as a call target.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of control and operation in the second embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 3, when transmitting, a telephone number is input on the operation unit 5 (step 31), and when a closed connection is set (step 32 / YES), the telephone number registered At the time of (step 33 / YES), if the password input is OK (step 34 / YES), FAX transmission is performed (step 35). If the closed connection has not been set (step 32 / NO), FAX transmission is performed (step 35). When the closed connection is set (step 32 / YES) and the telephone number is not registered (step 33 / NO), the fax is transmitted (step 35). When the closed connection is set (step 32 / YES), when the telephone number is registered (step 33 / YES), when the password input is NG (step 34 / NO), the telephone number It returns to input (step 31).
As a result, it is possible to temporarily release the restriction and transmit a call to a party registered as a non-call target.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of control and operation in the third embodiment. The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 4, when transmitting, the telephone number is input by the operation unit 5 (step 41), and when the closed area connection is set (step 42 / YES), the telephone number is registered. At the time of (step 43 / YES), at the time of the designated time (step 44 / YES), FAX transmission is performed (step 45). If the closed connection has not been set (step 42 / NO), FAX transmission is performed (step 45). When the closed connection is set (step 42 / YES) and the telephone number is not registered (step 43 / NO), the fax is transmitted (step 45). If the closed area connection is set (step 42 / YES), the telephone number is a registered number (step 43 / YES), and the time is not the designated time (step 44 / NO), enter the telephone number. Return to (Step 41).
As a result, it is possible to make a call only during a time period when the communication fee is low by utilizing the call regulation.
[0024]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of control and operation in the fourth embodiment. The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 5, when transmitting, the telephone number is input by the operation unit 5 (step 51), and when the closed connection is set (step 52 / YES), the telephone number in which the telephone number is registered is registered. At the time of (step 53 / YES), at the time of the designated time (step 54 / YES), FAX transmission is performed (step 56). When the closed connection is not set (step 52 / NO), FAX transmission is performed (step 56). When the closed connection is set (step 52 / YES) and the telephone number is not registered (step 53 / NO), the fax is transmitted (step 56). When the closed connection is set (step 52 / YES), when the telephone number is the registered number (step 53 / YES), and when it is not the designated time (step 54 / NO), the correct password is When input is made (step 55 / YES), fax transmission is performed (step 56). When the closed connection is set (step 52 / YES), when the telephone number is the registered number (step 53 / YES), and when it is not the designated time (step 54 / NO), the correct password is If not input (step 55 / NO), the process returns to the telephone number input (step 51).
As a result, it is possible to perform communication by temporarily releasing the restriction even during the time period when the transmission restriction is applied.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, when the transmission destination is limited, the restriction can be temporarily released by using the password, and the transmission can be performed.
[0027]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when transmitting data other than the closed connection from the closed facsimile apparatus, only the person who knows the permitted password can use the outgoing connection. Facsimile can be used effectively.
[0028]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when transmitting from the facsimile apparatus to a facsimile whose transmission is restricted, only a person who knows the authorized password can use it, so that the communication of the destination whose transmission is restricted is managed. And facsimile can be used effectively.
[0029]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since transmission cannot be performed during the restricted time, transmission can be reliably performed at a time when the fee is low, and costs can be reduced.
[0030]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when urgent transmission is performed from the facsimile apparatus to the destination whose transmission is restricted, only the person who knows the permitted password can use it, so that the communication of the destination whose transmission is restricted can be used. Can be managed and facsimile can be used effectively.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a facsimile apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of control and operation in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of control and operation in the second embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of control and operation in the third embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of control and operation in the fourth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
4 Control Unit 5 Operation Unit 9 Network Control Device 10 Communication Control Unit 11 Encoding / Decoding Unit 12 Modem

Claims (5)

Calling means for making a telephone call;
Reading means for reading an image,
Printing means for outputting an image,
Image storage means for storing an image,
Communication control means for controlling connection to a network;
Encoding / decoding means for encoding / decoding image data;
Operation display means for inputting an external command and displaying a response to the command;
Destination restriction means for setting outgoing call restrictions;
A restriction target storage unit that holds the transmission restriction target,
Regulation release means for releasing the transmission restriction by a password,
Return means for returning the state from the restriction release to the restriction state;
A facsimile apparatus comprising: a password storage unit for storing the password. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the destination restriction unit can transmit only to a target held by the restriction target storage unit. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the destination restriction unit disables transmission only to a target held by the restriction target storage unit. 4. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said destination restriction means has time specification means for restricting transmission at a specified time. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a release unit that releases the transmission restriction by the time designation unit using a password, and a return unit that returns the restriction release state to the restriction state.

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